XN000022-1986-11-12 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986

HE STRESSED THAT THE SUCCESS OF THE SCHEME HINGED HEAVILY ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVISIONS AT THE IMPLEMENTATION LEVEL,

+THE SPONSORS FOR THESE COMMUNITY SERVICES MUST BE SECURED WELL AHEAD OF TIME, AND THE OPERATION OF THESE SERVICES MUST BE CAREFULLY SYNCHRONISED WITH THE MOVING IN OF THE ELDERLY RESIDENTS,+ HE SAID.

DR HO SAID MA ON SHAN, WHERE THE FIRST PROJECT OF THE SHELTERED HOUSING SCHEME WOULD BE SITUATED AND OPERATING AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, WAS FAR FROM A FULL-FLEDGED, SELF-CONTAINED COMMUNITY, AS A RESULT OF WHICH THE ELDERLY RESIDENTS THERE WOULD HAVE TO RELY ON THE SERVICES AND FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN SHA TIN TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.

+THIS WILL INEVITABLY CAUSE MUCH INCONVENIENCE AND HARDSHIP FOR RESIDENTS, WHO, APART FROM DEALING WITH THEIR ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH SETTLING DOWN IN A NEW ENVIRONMENT, HAVE TO COPE WITH PERSONAL PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE PROCESS OF AGEING, HE SAID.

HE SAID HE FEARED THAT THE PHYSICAL FEEBLENESS AND MOBILITY DIFFICULTY OF THE SE ELDERLY WOULD HINDER THEM FROM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES ACROSS TOLO HARBOUR IN SHA TIN, BECAUSE TRANSPORT BETWEEN THESE TWO PLACES WAS NOT VERY CONVENIENT.

HE THEREFORE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO EXERCISE GREAT CARE IN ENSURING DOVETAILING THE SERVICE PROVISION WITH THE OCCUPANCY OF THESE SHELTERED HOUSING UNITS.

HOTLINE SERVICE TO HANDLE ELDERLY ABUSE

*****

GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN URGED TO INTRODUCE A HOTLINE SERVICE TO HANDLE CASES OF ABUSE OF THE ELDERLY.

SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY TODAY (WEDNESDAY), DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP SAID THOUGH CHINESE FAMILIES ON THE WHOLE RESPECTED THE OLD, ELDERLY ABUSE DID EXIST.

+

IN FACT, THE EXISTENCE OF SUCH ABUSE HAD BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED IN A PILOT SURVEY DONE BY THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE IN 1983, SHE SAID.

/+I CONSIDER

it.